Panthers’ Laviska Shenault goes ‘big time’ with eye-opening catch-and-run TD vs. Falcons
Laviska Shenault took off.
The receiver picked up speed behind Carolina Panthers quarterback PJ Walker and running back D’Onta Foreman as he ran to the opposite side of the field before the ball was snapped from the Atlanta 41-yard line.
Walker called for the snap in the shotgun formation and immediately fired the ball on a swing pass to Shenault, who caught it around the 48-yard line and sped up the field with fellow receivers Terrace Marshall Jr. and DJ Moore blocking in front of him.
After passing Marshall and Moore, Shenault turned on the jets as he picked up ground, outrunning Falcons defenders. Atlanta linebacker Rashaan Evans and safety Jaylinn Hawkins crashed into each other in pursuit, as Shenault closed in on his second touchdown of the season.
The scoring play — which was called a run and not a completion — highlighted Shenault’s open-field speed.
“They try to say I’m slow,” Shenault said with a smile. “But ain’t nobody caught me yet.”
While the Panthers had several individual redemption stories take place within their 25-15 win over the Falcons on Thursday, Shenault’s 41-yard score was highlight of the night on offense. It was also Shenault’s first major play since his game-changing score — on a similar catch-and-run opportunity — in the Week 3 win against the New Orleans Saints.
Shenault’s 67-yard touchdown against New Orleans had been long forgotten heading into Week 10, as he had missed two games with a hamstring injury and been targeted just eight times in the seven weeks since. He had played just 32 total snaps in the aftermath and produced just six catches for 34 yards in that playing time before the win against the Falcons.
But Thursday was his moment and it came under the biggest spotlight the Panthers are likely to receive this season. Shenault, who was acquired in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in September, made the most of the play — and two big blocks from Marshall and Moore — in front of a national audience.
“Big shoutouts to them,” Shenault said. “If they weren’t blocking, I wouldn’t have found the end zone.”
Shenault hasn’t been able to truly find his footing in Charlotte. But having a pair of breakaway touchdowns on highlight reel will make opposing defenses plan for him.
“Just when my number is called, just be ready to perform,” Shenault said. “Just don’t talk about it, just go do it.”
The Panthers like using Shenault in pre-snap motion to get a read on their opponents’ coverage plans.
While Shenault has typically been a decoy on those plays — essentially a 6-foot-1, 220-pound mirage — his standout streak down the field against the Falcons should make defenders think twice before ignoring the bait-and-switch of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s occasional magic trick.
If defenses take him lightly, Shenault has shown he can leave them in a cloud of dust with just a couple of blockers in front of him.
“I think (pre-snap motion) pays off a lot,” Shenault said. “Getting those touches, touches, and then eventually something will pop. I think it’s big time.”
This story was originally published November 11, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
